Packer for well casing



p 24, 1957 w. L. CHURCH PACKER FORWELL CASING Filed Feb. 15, 1954' m v WW @IA f W W W w ka w an United States Patent PACKER FOR WELL CASING Walter L. Church, Houston, Tex.

Application February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,116

9 Claims. (Cl. 166-120) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a packer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a packer for Sealing a well casing in drilling operations having novel means for anchoring the packing tool in the well and operating a string of tubing longitudinally through the packer while the packer is so anchored.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packer having novel means for releasably securing a Working string of tubing in the packer and having means for reengaging the string with the packer.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a packer having novel means for building up pressure within the packer and for releasing same at a predetermined degree of pressure.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the tool.

Figure 2A is an elevational view of a portion of the tool, in cross section, and I Figure 2B is an elevational view of another portion of the tool, in continuation of the view shown in Figure 2A, in cross section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a string of tubing in a well bore having a collar 2, which is rotatably mounted on the gland 3, and which has a suitable stop to limit its rotation, such as the key 5, which rides in a slot 6 in the gland 3. Secured to the gland 3 is the outer housing 4 which has one or more outlet ports, as 7, therein. An inner sleeve 8 is also secured to the collar 2, and which supports the gland 3, and is rotatable with the collar 2 and has a projecting key 8a on its lower margin which is designed to fit in a keyway in the floating sleeve 8b. The sleeve 8b rides on a shoulder in the outer sleeves inside wall as at 80, and, of course, rotates with the inner sleeve and the collar 2. Ports, as 9, are provided in the floating sleeve 8b which may be moved into and out of connection with the ports 7 by rotation of the tubing. The relation of the inner sleeve with the outer sleeve is preferably such that a reverse rotation of the tubing will bring the ports 7, 9 into alignment with each other, and a forward rotation will move them out of alignment. 7

Connected to the lower end of the outer sleeve 4 is the slip housing 10 in which a series of retractable slips 11, 11 are mounted. These slips may be in any desired number, preferably in a series of three rows with three slips in each row. A suitable packing means, as 12, 12, may be mounted in the inside wall of the housing 10 adjacent each end thereof and an enlarged pressure chamber 13 is provided in the housing 10. The slips 11 are formed with the conventional teeth on the outer surface thereof and are provided with suitable retracting means, such as the springs 14. The inside surface of the slips 11 are formed with a projection 15, which bears against the tubing section 16 when the slips are retracted. Suitable packing, such as the O-ring packing means 18 may be mounted on each slip 11 to prevent leakage of ing the shoulder 20, and is internally threaded to receive the upper end of the externally threaded section 21. Mounted on the section 21 is the latch means, consisting of a collar 22 and a series of suspended legs, as 23, having ratchet teeth 24 on the outer surfaces of the lower ends thereof, and having means for maintaining the legs 23 in connection with the coupling 26, such as the key 25, which rides in a key slot 27 in said coupling 26. The collar 22 is slidably mounted on the section 21 and a coil spring 43 is mounted on the section 21 be tween said collar 22 and the lower end of the tubing 20. A shoulder 29 is formed on the legs 22 and is adapted to be moved into abutment against the lower end of the section 21. The tubing 30 is secured at its upper end to the coupling 26 and extends through the packer core 31. The packer core 31 has an enlarged internally threaded bore adapted to receive the teeth 24 of the legs 23 and the outer peipihery of the core 31, at its upper end, is reduced and normally extends upwardly into the housing 19, and is again reduced beneath the teeth 24 forming the shoulder 41 against which the lower end of the housing 19 rests. A packing material, such as rubber, neoprene or the like is used in forming the packer 32, which is in abutment at its upper end with the lock ring 33 and at its lower end with the retaining ring 34.

Suitable slips as 36 are mounted on the core 31, and shear pins, as 35, are mounted through each slip 36, the ring 34 and into the core 31. The lower outside surface of the ring 34 is inwardly tapered and the upper inside surface vof the slips 36 are outwardlytapered. A

collar 37 is connected to the lower end of the core 31 and bears against the slip 36. The outside surface of the core 31 is provided with teethwhich will ratchet against the teeth of the lock nut 33 when the packer is moved into packing position.

In the lower end of the tubing section 313 is a cage 28, having suitable openings therein. Immediately above said openings is located a ball valve seat 39 in which the ball 40 rests. The seat 39 is a fraction of an inch less in diameter than the outside circumference of the ball 40. The ball 40 will be placed on the seat 39, and when sufficient pressure has been built up in the tubing section 30, the ball will be forced through the seat 39 into the lower end of the cage 28 permitting a flow of pressure through the openings in the cage. I I

When it is desired to pack off a casing, the above described device is lowered into a well on a string of tubing. When the desired position has been reached, the ball 40 is dropped into the'seat 39, and pressure is built up in the tubing. When a suflicient pressure, usually about five hundred pounds, has been reached, the slips 11 will beforced outwardly intocontact With the casing and will anchor the housing 10 against longitudinal movement. The string of tubing may then be raised, lifting the ring 34 while the ring 33 is held against longitudinal movement, until the packer 32 between said rings is firmly ex-' panded against the casing. Suitable vent ports, as 42, may be provided to facilitate this movement. a

When the maximum compression of the packer has been attained, the sear pins 35 will shear and the slips 36 will move, upwardly and outwardly against the casing, and will anchor the packer against. downward movement. The core 31 moves upwardly with the packer, and the teeth of the core ratchet against the teeth of the lock ring 33,

preventing the core from downward movement: after the packer is set.

In acidizing, a well, it is desirable that the mud and water around the bottom ofthe tubing beexpelledx prior to introduction of the acidizing solution, .anditoaccomplish this, the pressure is raised in the. tubing. suflicient. to. force theball 40 through the seat 39, usually about one thousand pounds. The tubing 1 is then lifted enough to place the connection between: the. legs 23 and the core 31 under a strain, thenthe tubing is rotated. The threads 24 being left hand threads, such rotation will disengage-the legs 23:

from the core 31 and the section 16 raised, lifting the housing 19 ofiof the. shoulder 41, and a washing fluid may then be pumped through the tubing and through the cage 38 at the bottom of the tubing, where the fluid will flow up and. around the tubing between the tubing 30 and core 31 and out of tubing intothe casing between the bottom of the section 19 and theshoulder 41. When the washing process is completed, the tubing is lowered and the legs 23 ratcheted back into connection with the core 31, suitable springs, as 43, breaking theshock of the conncction. The acidization then being accomplished through the tubing and cage.

If it is desired to remove the tubing after the packer has been set, the pump is stopped and the tubing partially rotated in reverse, dumping the pressure through the ports 7, 9, and the slips 11 will be retracted upon the relief of the pressure in the tubing, the string of tubing raised enough to place a strain on the legs 23 and the tubing rotated until the legs 23 are disconnected from the core 31, and the tool, less the packer 32, core 31, slips 36 and collar 37, removed from the well. The slips 36 will retain the packer in position, and, all of the retained parts may be constructed of iron, if desired, so that they may be drilled out of the casing, if desired.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by wayof illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a packer for well casing, a collar secured to the lower end of a string of tubing, an inner sleeve secured.

to said collar and an outer sleeve supported by said inner sleeve, a floating sleeve mounted in said outer sleeve and keyed to said inner sleeve, ports in said outer sleeve and saidfloating sleeve adapted to be moved into and out of alignment, a slip housing secured to said outer sleeve, said housing having an inner pressure chamber, a tubing section mounted in said housing, a series of retractable slips mounted in said housing and extending into said pressure chamber, said slips having inwardly-extending axial projections bearing against said tubing when in retracted position, a port through said tubing leading into said pressure chamber, a tubular sleeve secured to said tubing section having a coupling on the lower end thereof, a collar on said last mentioned sleeve having a series of integral suspended legs, the said legs terminating in ratchet teeth on the outer side thereof'and being secured to said coupling, a housing enclosing said tubing section and collar, a packer core releasably engaged with said ratchet teeth on said legs and having outside ratchet teeth adjacent the upper end thereof, an expandable packer on said core, a lock ring having inside ratchet teeth mounted on said core at the upper end of said packing and a retaining ring .on said coreat the lower end of said packing and a slip, on said core releasably secured to said packing.

2. In a packer for well casing, a slip housing, slips in said housing having means for constantly urgingsaid slips in retracted position, means foraanchoring said housing in a well casing, a tubing section longitudinally movable in said housing, said section terminating in an enlarged internally threaded section, an outwardly threaded sleeve mounted in said enlarged section, a collar movably mounted on said sleeve having a series of depending legs, a packer core extended beneath said collar and adapted to be releasably secured to the extended ends of said legs, a tubing through said packer core secured at one end to said sleeve and an expandable packing on said packer core and an extension on said slip housing abutting against and limiting the upward movement of said packer core.

3. In a packerfor well casing, a series of tubular housings in longitudinal axial alignment and having cooperating threaded connections at their respective abutting ends, adapted to be secured to the end of a tubing having fluid under pressure, one of said housings being a slip housing having vertically movable spring loaded hydraulically operated slips therein yieldingly maintained in retracted position, means for selectively introducing hydraulic pressure from said tubing to said slips to move said slips into engaging position, a longitudinally movable mandrel in said housing and an expandable packer mounted on said mandrel with its upper end bearing against the lowermost of said housings, said slips anchoring said slip housing while said mandrel is moved upwardly seating said packer.

4. In a packer for well casing, a series of tubular housings in which fluid is introduced under pressure when said housings are lowered to the desired position in the well casing, one of said housings being a slip housing, a series of cylindrical slips mounted in said slip housing and being vertically movable therein, means for constantly urging said slips into retracted position, annular sealing means on said slips, a pressure chamber in said slip housing, a longitudinally movable tubing extending through said slip housing having ports therethrough for passage of fluid under pressure into said pressure chamber, sealing means on each end of said pressure chamber and inwardly extending projections on said slips bearing against said tubing when said slips are in retracted position and an expandable packer on said tubing beneath and bearing against. said housing, movable into packing position when said slips are set and said tubing is moved upwardly through said housing.

5. In a packer for well casing, a packer housing and a slip housing, a tubing extending through said housings and a packer releasably secured to said packer housing, a series of openings in said slip housing, vertically movable slips in said openings, means constantly urging said slips into retracted position, said slip housings having an internally enlarged portion forming a pressure chamber, sealing means at each end of said housing, ports in said tubing through which hydraulic pressure may be applied to said pressure chamber to seat said slips and to maintain said slip housing anchored and permit the said tubing to move longitudinally therethrough while the packer is being expanded and to relieve said pressure and release said slips when it is desired to withdraw the housings.

6. In a packer for well casing, a packer housing and a slip housing, rctractible slips vertically mounted in said slip housing, a pressure chamber in said slip housing, tubing mounted in said housings and longitudinally movable thcrethrough, said slip housing having vertical ports through which hydraulic pressure is exerted against said slips, means for constantly urging said slips into retracted position, a packer on said tubing beneath, and bearing against said housings and expandable into packing posi tion upon upward movement of said tubing when said slips are set, an internal flange in said tubing adjacent the lower end therof, a ball mounted on said flange, vertical passageways in said tubing below said flange, said ball being held in position by said flange and maintaining fluid in said tubing at a predetermined pressure and said flange yielding permitting said ballto move through said flange and into the tubing below said flange upon increase of said predetermined pressure.

7. In a packer for well casing, a series of housings, packing means in said housings, a tubing extending through said housings and movable longitudinally through one of said housings and terminating beneath said housings, a packer on said tubing beneath and bearing against said housings, a restriction in said tubing beneath said housings, a plurality of fluid passageways through said tubing beneath said restriction, a ball adapted to seat on said restriction until a predetermined pressure is built up in said tubing seating said slips and the tubing is raised and the packing means set and upon said pressure exceeding said predetermined degree of pressure said restriction will yield permitting said ball to be forced through said restriction.

8. In a packer for well casing having fluid under pressure and having a string of tubing through which said fluid flows, a series of housings in axial alignment and joined at their abutting ends, one of said housings having -means for anchoring said housing against longitudinal movement, a packing mounted beneath the lowermost of said housings having packing anchors, means on said tubing for yieldably restraining the pressure fluid to seat the packing anchors and means for longitudinally moving said tubing through the anchored housing to expand said packer.

9. In a packer for Well casings, a series of tubular housings, means for anchoring said housings in a well casing, a tubing longitudinally movable in said housings, the lower end of said tubing being internally threaded, an externally threaded sleeve mounted at the said lower end of said tubing, a collar movably mounted on said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,059,901 Parrish Nov. 3, 1936 2,117,536 Baker et al. May 17, 1938 2,187,487 Burt Ian. 16, 1940 2,189,702 Burt Feb. 6, 1940 2,270,648 Church Ian. 20, 1942 2,315,931 Burt et a1. Apr. 6, 1943 2,352,700 Ferris July 4, 1944 2,584,448 Hern Feb. 5, 1952 2,630,865 Baker Mar. 10, 1953 2,671,512 1954 Ragan et al. Mar. 9, 

